US12280949B2ActiveUtilityA1

Storage and sorting method and apparatus, control device and storage medium

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Assignee: BEIJING JINGDONG ZHENSHI INFORMATION TECH CO LTDPriority: Jul 24, 2019Filed: Mar 24, 2020Granted: Apr 22, 2025
Est. expiryJul 24, 2039(~13 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
B65G 47/902B65G 47/31B07C 3/008B07C 1/06B65G 1/127B65G 47/92B65G 47/907B65G 1/0471B65G 1/0485B07C 3/08B07C 1/00B07C 5/36B07C 3/00
53
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
32
References
19
Claims

Abstract

The present invention provides a storage and sorting method and apparatus, a control device and a storage medium, and relates to the field of logistics. The storing and sorting apparatus of the present disclosure includes: a conveying device configured to convey articles; and at least one storage device, wherein the storage device is located over the conveying device, and is configured to obtain and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device in a storage phase, and release the stored articles to the conveying device in a sorting phase.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A storing and sorting apparatus, comprising:
 a conveying device configured to convey articles; 
 a shaft; and 
 at least one storage device, wherein the at least one storage device is located over the conveying device, is nested on the shaft and is configured to: 
 be driven to rotate about the shaft; 
 obtain and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device in a storage phase; and 
 release the stored articles to the conveying device in a sorting phase. 
 
     
     
       2. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an extending direction of the shaft is parallel to a conveying direction of the conveying device. 
     
     
       3. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one storage device comprises a plurality of storage devices; and 
 the plurality of storage devices are distributed along an axial direction of the shaft, and the plurality of storage devices are configured to be driven to rotate about the shaft separately or simultaneously. 
 
     
     
       4. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one storage device comprises a plurality of storage units configured to rotate about the shaft in the case where the at least one storage device rotates about the shaft. 
     
     
       5. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the at least one storage device is in the shape of a polygonal prism; each side of the polygonal prism is provided with a storage unit respectively, and each storage unit is configured to obtain and store one article. 
 
     
     
       6. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of storage units comprises a retractable gripping end. 
     
     
       7. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the gripping end comprises a chuck or a mechanical gripper. 
     
     
       8. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an information entry device located on an opposite side of the conveying device along the conveying direction, and configured to obtain information of the articles to be entered into the conveying device. 
 
     
     
       9. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a differential conveying device located on an opposite side of the conveying device along a conveying direction, and configured to convey the articles to the conveying device and adjust a movement speed so that the distance between every two adjacent articles is equal. 
 
     
     
       10. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one storage device is configured to adsorb and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device by an adsorption force, or to grip and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device by a mechanical structure in the storage stage. 
 
     
     
       11. The storing and sorting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control device connected to the conveying device and the at least one storage device and configured to: 
 control the conveying device to convey the articles under the storage device, and control the at least one storage device to obtain the articles in the storage phase; and 
 control the at least one storage device to release the stored articles to the conveying device in the sorting stage. 
 
     
     
       12. A storage and sorting method, comprising:
 determining whether there is an article entering a conveying device of a storing and sorting apparatus, wherein the storing and sorting apparatus comprises the conveying device configured to convey articles, a shaft and at least one storage device, the at least one storage device is nested on the shaft and is configured to: be driven to rotate about the shaft; obtain and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device in a storage phase; and release the stored articles to the conveying device in a sorting phase; and 
 selecting a target storage device from the at least one storage device, and controlling the target storage device to obtain and store the article in the case where it is determined that an article enters the conveying device; wherein the at least one storage device is located over the conveying device. 
 
     
     
       13. The storage and sorting method according to  claim 12 , wherein the controlling the target storage device to obtain and store the article comprises:
 rotating the target storage device by a predetermined angle so that a position of an empty storage unit of the target storage device is opposite to the conveying device; 
 conveying the article under the target storage device; and 
 controlling the empty storage unit of the target storage device to obtain and store the article. 
 
     
     
       14. The storage and sorting method according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 when a number of target storage devices is one; the conveying the article under the target storage device comprises: controlling the conveying device to convey the article under the target storage device, wherein a number of articles is one; or 
 when a number of target storage devices is plural; the conveying the articles under the target storage device comprises: controlling the conveying device and a differential conveying device to convey a plurality of articles under corresponding target storage devices respectively, wherein a number of articles is not greater than the number of target storage devices. 
 
     
     
       15. The storage and sorting method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 selecting a destination of currently sorted articles; 
 determining all storage devices that store articles destined for the selected destination as release storage devices; 
 controlling the release storage devices to release the articles destined for the selected destination to the conveying device; and 
 controlling the conveying device to actuate to convey the articles to the destination. 
 
     
     
       16. A control device comprising:
 a memory configured to store instructions; and 
 a processor configured to execute a method for performing instructions comprising: 
 determining whether there is an article entering a conveying device of a storing and sorting apparatus, wherein the storing and sorting apparatus comprises the conveying device configured to convey articles, a shaft and at least one storage device, the at least one storage device is nested on the shaft and is configured to: be driven to rotate about the shaft; obtain and store the articles conveyed on the conveying device in a storage phase; and release the stored articles to the conveying device in a sorting phase; and 
 selecting a target storage device from the at least one storage device, and controlling the target storage device to obtain and store the article in the case where it is determined that an article enters the conveying device; wherein the at least one storage device is located over the conveying device. 
 
     
     
       17. The control device according to  claim 16 , wherein the controlling the target storage device to obtain and store the article comprises:
 rotating the target storage device by a predetermined angle so that a position of an empty storage unit of the target storage device is opposite to the conveying device; 
 conveying the article under the target storage device; and 
 controlling the empty storage unit of the target storage device to obtain and store the article. 
 
     
     
       18. The control device according to  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 selecting a destination of currently sorted articles; 
 determining all storage devices that store articles destined for the selected destination as release storage devices; 
 controlling the release storage devices to release the articles destined for the selected destination to the conveying device; and 
 controlling the conveying device to actuate to convey the articles to the destination. 
 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions which when executed by a processor implements the storage and sorting method according to  claim 12 .

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